162 communities benefit from mosquito control activities

The Ministry of Health says it has completed mosquito control activities in 162 communities across the island, since it started its intensified programme a week ago.

The programme intensified as the country recorded an increase in the number of cases of dengue fever since the start of the year.

The ministry said as at September 15, there have been 663 suspected cases of dengue, compared to 887 for all of 2011.

It said the mosquito control activities include fogging, treatment and destruction of breeding sites, and community based education and promotion.

The health ministry said approximately 500 communities are to be fogged under the programme.

Director of Health Promotion and Protection, Dr. Kevin Harvey, said the intensified activities will continue for at least the next three weeks.

Dengue fever is spread when an Aedes Aegypti mosquito bites an infected person and then bites others.

Symptoms of dengue fever include pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, weakness, fever and possibly a rash.

The health ministry is advising persons who are having any of the symptoms, signs of bleeding or severe abdominal pain, weakness, difficulty in breathing or fainting and pale, cold or clammy skin, to seek emergency care at the nearest hospital.